By Greg Fry

Food prices

Food prices increasing due to COVID19 – report

Jan 15, 2021 | 11:48 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — If you’ve been suffering from sticker shock while shopping for food recently, it’s not a coincidence.

According to the Food Price Report from Dalhousie University, overall food prices will increase 3 to 5 percent in 2021.

“The most signficant increases are predicted for meat at 4.5 to 6.5 percent, bakery at 3.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, and vegetables at 4.5 to 6.5 per cent,” says the report.

The report attributes the increase in prices to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“The COVID-19 pandemic led to border and facility closures, shifting consumer demand and unemployment, as well as modifications in production, manufacturing, distribution and retailing practices to enhance safety – all of which impacted food prices.”

Executive Director Lola-Dawn Fennell with the Prince George Council of Seniors says she’s noticed the increase.

“Oh, I certainly have. You used to be able to go to the grocery store and spend a $100 and come out with six bags of groceries. Now you’re lucky if $100 gets you one bag.”

She says it’s forced her to make difficult choices when she goes shopping. For example she says she eats less meat and looks forward to summer when she can grow vegetables on her balcony.

Dr. Annie Booth, a professor of Environmental and Sustainability Studies at UNBC, says the results of the report were no surprise to her either. She says when COVID-19 pushed up production costs, consumers were forced to pay more.